Pakistan is taking significant steps to strengthen investment flows, policy reforms, and regional connectivity through its latest engagement between the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Pakistan Regional Economic Forum (PREF). The discussions, held recently, focused on strategies to attract both domestic and foreign investment, enhance public-private partnerships, and unlock opportunities across critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and regional trade.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh welcomed the proposals presented during the engagement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering a pro-business environment. He highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline regulatory frameworks and introduce investor-friendly policies aimed at facilitating seamless investment procedures. According to Sheikh, these measures are designed to provide confidence to investors and promote sustainable economic growth.
The PREF delegation included prominent figures from Pakistan’s economic and business landscape, including Vice Admiral (R) Hisham Khan, senior economist and former BOI chairman Haroon Sharif, former HUBCO CEO Khalid Mansoor, and Ambassador (R) Naghmana A. Hashim. PREF, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), has positioned itself as a platform to promote strategic dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders, facilitating collaboration that drives economic development.
Officials underlined that closer coordination between the BOI and private sector stakeholders is essential to achieving Pakistan’s investment and regional connectivity goals. By combining policy reforms with private sector expertise, the government aims to create new avenues for investment in infrastructure projects, energy production, and regional trade initiatives. Such collaborations are expected to increase economic efficiency, stimulate job creation, and support long-term growth objectives.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of regional connectivity, particularly in aligning Pakistan’s economic strategy with broader South Asian trade and development goals. By encouraging cross-border investment and facilitating smoother trade corridors, Pakistan is seeking to strengthen its position as a key regional economic hub. The BOI emphasized that investments in transport infrastructure, energy networks, and industrial development can yield significant multiplier effects across the economy.
In addition to fostering investment, the dialogue focused on ensuring that regulatory improvements support ease of doing business. Simplifying investment approval processes, ensuring transparency, and providing incentives for priority sectors were among the key recommendations discussed. By bridging the gap between government policy and industry needs, Pakistan aims to create an ecosystem conducive to sustainable private sector growth while attracting high-quality foreign investment.
The BOI–PREF engagement represents a strategic effort to combine policymaking, investment promotion, and industry insights to enhance Pakistan’s economic competitiveness. Officials noted that ongoing collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and policy innovation will be central to advancing the country’s economic agenda, strengthening regional trade linkages, and realizing long-term development objectives.
Through these measures, Pakistan seeks to position itself as a robust investment destination while supporting regional cooperation and infrastructure development, signaling a forward-looking approach to economic growth and strategic connectivity.
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